About clubbing

Clubbing, quite literally, means going to a nightclub (or club) — a venue that generally serves alcohol and provides entertainment in the form of music and dance. It is one of the most popular recreational activities for people to indulge in, especially over the weekend.

The origins of clubbing can be traced back to the 1900s when working class Americans would gather at honky tonks or juke joints to dance to music played on a piano or on a jukebox. During the World War, jazz, bebop music and the jitterbug dance were prohibited by the Nazis so as an act of resistance, French people met in hidden basements called discotheques where they were free to do as they pleased. Thus, this period during the World Wars saw the birth of many of the elements of a modern nightclub.

The 1970s disco era saw the popularity of nightclubs soar to greater heights. Such clubs became havens for homosexuals, Blacks, Latinos and Jews – people who felt oppressed and marginalized – as these places were non-discriminatory in nature and they were a meeting point for people from all walks of life. The nightclub became a hub that saw the emergence of new genres of music and the hottest trends in fashion. However, something far seedier began to brew beneath the veneer of glitz and glamour. The use of drugs for recreational purposes began to gain popularity, which in turn fostered promiscuous behaviour and instances of couples engaging in public sex. Manhattan’s Studio 54 was notorious for such acts of hedonism.

As the 1980s rolled in, the term ‘disco’ lost its popularity. In London, the nightclub scene began to thrive with clubs such as The Blitz, Camden Palace and The Batcave becoming popular haunts. Similarly, clubs such as Area, Danceteria and the Limelight in New York thrived during this period.

Some common features of nightclubs today are the creation of visual content to match the music. Bouncers have also become a common feature as they can screen the candidates who enter the club ensuring that the prospective patrons are of legal drinking age or do not cause a nuisance in the club. At some clubs, patrons who do not adhere to a specific dress code are barred from entering as well.